Shuffle feed mechanism

ABSTRACT

This mechanism comprises a shuffle feed mechanism having two sets of longitudinally extending serrated members forming a grid or bed, at least one of the sets being movable longitudinally with respect to the other so as to progress articles from pocketto-pocket or valley to valley along the length of the mechanism by pushing of the articles upwardly along an inclined wall of a V-shaped notch and over the apex so as to slide or roll down into the next notch. The spaces or slots between adjacent longitudinally extending members may be used as sorting openings either for small debris fed along with the articles being progressed or to provide different sizes or grades of the articles. Also this type of shuffle feed may be used as an open grid work for the passage of upwardly directed air blasts to separate light articles of debris from the articles being progressed.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Earl R. Anderson Los Gatos, Calif. [2]] Appl. No.v 67,317 [22] Filed Aug. 27, 1970 [23] Division of Ser. No. 776,682

Nov 18, 1968 [45] Patented Oct. 12, 197 l [73] Assignee Brex Corp., trustee Los Gatos, Calif.

[54] SHUFFLE FEED MECHANISM 5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 209/73, 209/83, 209/99 [51] lint. Cl B07c 5/04 [50] Field of Search 209/73, 83, 85,99; 198/219 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,466,029 8/1923 Peters 198/219 2,206,156 7/1940 Bogartetal. 3,269,535 8/1966 Daugherty ABSTRACT: This mechanism comprises a shuffie feed mechanism having two sets of longitudinally extending serrated members forming a grid or bed, at least one of the sets being movable longitudinally with respect to the other so as to progress articles from pocket-to-pocket or valley to valley along the length of the mechanism by pushing of the articles upwardly along an inclined wall of a V-shaped notch and over the apex so as to slide or roll down into the next notch.

The spaces or slots between adjacent longitudinally extending members may be used as sorting openings either for small debris fed along with the articles being progressed or to provide different sizes or grades of the articles.

Also this type of shuffie feed may be used as an open grid work for the passage of upwardly directed air blasts to separate light articles of debris from the articles being progressed.

PATENTED um 1 2 I97] INVENTOR. EARL R. ANDERSON ATTORNEY$ SI-IIJI IFILIE FEED MECHANISM DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This application is a division of my copending application Ser. No. 776,682, filed Nov. 18, 1968, for SI-IUFFLE FEED MECHANISM.

The present invention concerns shuffle feed mechanisms of the type having longitudinally extending shuffle members arranged in sets, at least one set of which is movable with respect to the other, and relates more particularly to improvements providing for separation of the articles according to size as determined by the spacing between adjacent parallel shuffle members.

It is an object of the invention to provide a shuffle feed mechanism which operates as a sorter or grader with respect to the articles being progressed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide shuffle feed mechanism of the above character in which a blast of gas such as air is employed in separating light debris or light articles from the principal flow of articles being fed.

The above and other objects of the invention are attained as described in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment, in which:

FIG. I is a schematic plan view illustrating the use of the mechanism as a feeding sorter;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the application of an air blast to the slot openings of the grid or bed so as to discharge light articles from the articles being fed.

Referring to FIGS. I and 2, the shuffle mechanism includes a base It upon which respective side frame members 112 and I3 are mounted, these members 112 and 13 being connected at both ends by respective cross members M. The shuffle feed members include a set of stationary notched or serrated shuffle members 211 which are secured between the side frame members I2 and 113 on respective stationary cross shafts 16, the shuffle feed members 21 being six in number and being suitably apertured to be held in position by these shafts. As seen in FIG. I there are two central stationary feed members 21a, two intermediate stationary members 2llb with their discharge ends at a higher elevation than the members 2111 and two side stationary members 2110 with their ends at a higher elevation than the members 21b so as to form a trough like configuration extending longitudinally from the discharge end and gradually fading out toward the feed end as shown where all the members are at the same position so as to be vertically positioned the same. Thus, the transverse pockets formed by the V-shaped serrations at 23 are straight across without a center trough at the feed end of the apparatus. The pockets 24 at the discharge end of the mechanism are formed transversely as troughs.

A second movable set of longitudinal shuffle feed members 26 (FIGS. I and 2) is provided which are mounted for relative reciprocation with respect to the stationary shuffle feed members along an inclined path substantially parallel to one wall of the V-notch in the stationary shuffle feed members. This movable set of shuffle feed members 26 is carried by respective cross-shafts 27 slidably supported at their ends in the side frame members 112 and H3.

The movable shuffle members 26 (FIG. 11) include a center member 26a, two similar members 26b secured at either side thereof and these two members 26a and 26b are separated by the stationary shuffle members 21a. Between the stationary shuffle members 2% and 21c there is a pair of movable shuffle members 26c, and at either side of the members 210 there are a second pair of movable members 26d.

As seen in H6. 2 the members 26d are higher than the members 26c, the members 260 are higher than the members 26b, and the members 26b are higher than the center member 26a at the discharge end of the apparatus so that the troughlike configuration of the shuffle feed bed or grid is continued by both the movable shuffle members as well as the stationary shuffle members.

Referring to FIGS. I and 2, the shuffle feed members 26c of the movable set have intermediate their length a barrier portion or wall M at either side of the path and this barrier portion is formed with an inclined lead face 61a which is beveled toward the center, a second lead portion 61b which extends upwardly to the full height of the barrier so that articles tending to travel toward the outer portion of the wall adjacent to sidewall portion 62 will be retarded or forced inwardly to enforce a single file relation of the articles being fed along the shuffle feed mechanism.

Referring to FIG. I, a shuffle feed sorting structure is shown in which the center movable member 260 and the two adjacent stationary members 2lla are omitted or shortened to provide a sizing opening 76 between the next pair of adjacent movable members 26b, an additional cross-shaft 27a being added to provide support for the movable member 260. At a further distance along the shuffle feed, the movable members 26b (and the stationary members 21b) are cut away to provide a sizing opening 77 between the two movable members 26b of the longitudinal sets. Also, suitable conveyors 79 and 78 are shown schematically to receive and remove the respective sizes sorted out in the sizing openings 76 and 77. As illustrated two different sizes will be sorted out through openings 76 and 77 while the larger articles are carried over the end of the shuffle feed mechanism.

Referring to FIG. 2, a conduit 81 leads from a suitable source of air under pressure (not shown) and leads to an upwardly directed discharge funnel 82 which extends across underneath the various shuffle feed members 211 and 26 so that any light debris ro light articles which are fed into the shuffle feed with articles to be single filed are carried upwardly and away from these articles.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is apparent that the invention is capable of variation and modification of the form shown so that the scope thereof should be limited only by the proper scope of the claims appended hereto.

Iclaim:

ll. In a shuffle feed mechanism, a plurality of longitudinally extending feed members arranged in sets extending from a feed end to a discharge end of the mechanism and forming a bed for supporting and feeding fruit and vegetable articles thereover, said members having serrated upper edges forming upwardly opening V-shaped notches in each member, said notches being transversely aligned in one relative position of said sets and providing transversely disposed article holding pockets, means mounting said respective sets for reciprocation relative to each other to advance an article from pocket to pocket, and certain of said members are spaced apart to provide a sizing opening for dropping of articles therethrough, the edges of the sizing opening being defined by a pair of said feed members.

2. In a shuffle feed mechanism as recited in claim 1, in which the said pair of said feed members defining a first sizing opening are shorter in length than the next adjacent pair of feed members and terminate at the discharge end of said first opening whereby said next adjacent pair of said members define a sizing opening for a larger article.

3. In a shuffle feed mechanism as recited in claim I, in which said feed members are constructed and arranged to provide a plurality of sizing openings lengthwise along said shuffle feed mechanism to remove successively different sizes of articles from the feed members.

i. In a shuffle feed mechanism as recited in claim 1, in which said feed members have means for effecting a single file feed of articles to said sizing opening.

5. In a shuffle feed mechanism as recited in claim I, including means for directing a gaseous medium upwardly between said feed members to separate lighter articles such as debris from the articles being fed. 

1. In a shuffle feed mechanism, a plurality of longitudinally extending feed members arranged in sets extending from a feed end to a discharge end of the mechanism and forming a bed for supporting and feeding fruit and vegetable articles thereover, said members having serrated upper edges forming upwardly opening V-shaped notches in each member, said notches being transversely aligned in one relaTive position of said sets and providing transversely disposed article holding pockets, means mounting said respective sets for reciprocation relative to each other to advance an article from pocket to pocket, and certain of said members are spaced apart to provide a sizing opening for dropping of articles therethrough, the edges of the sizing opening being defined by a pair of said feed members.
 2. In a shuffle feed mechanism as recited in claim 1, in which the said pair of said feed members defining a first sizing opening are shorter in length than the next adjacent pair of feed members and terminate at the discharge end of said first opening whereby said next adjacent pair of said members define a sizing opening for a larger article.
 3. In a shuffle feed mechanism as recited in claim 1, in which said feed members are constructed and arranged to provide a plurality of sizing openings lengthwise along said shuffle feed mechanism to remove successively different sizes of articles from the feed members.
 4. In a shuffle feed mechanism as recited in claim 1, in which said feed members have means for effecting a single file feed of articles to said sizing opening.
 5. In a shuffle feed mechanism as recited in claim 1, including means for directing a gaseous medium upwardly between said feed members to separate lighter articles such as debris from the articles being fed. 